Extend your home - without permission

As the weather warms up and the clocks prepare to go forward, the great British home improvement season is ready to kick off.

For those searching for inspiration, one of the most popular exhibitions of the year The Daily Mail Ideal Home Show is taking place at Earls Court, in London, until April 1.

The show features experts and advice, with exhibitors demonstrating how anything from a one-bedroom flat to country mansion can be transformed. But while many homeowners dream of revamping their home, the thought of planning permission often stalls projects in their tracks.

However, there are a number of home improvements that can be done without planning permission as long as you do not live in a listed building or conservation area.

Remember: always check with the local planning office before undertaking work. And if you make any changes to your home that don't require planning permission, you still need to seek building regulations approval. To find out more visit www.planningportal.gov.uk.

Here are five ways to add value to your home – and they're generally free planning-permission free.

Patio or French doors

Drawing in extra light and providing an open view onto an outside area creates the impression of a much larger space inside. The cheapest and most popular patio doors are the commonplace uPVC kind. But if you have a period home with existing wood and glass windows, or live in a conservation area, you should opt for more expensive wooden doors. Visit the Glass and Glazing Federation at www.ggf.co.uk for information.

Single storey extension

Ground floor extensions not exceeding between 50m3 and 70m3, depending on local rules, no higher than 4m and not within 2m of a property's boundary do not need planning permission. But they must be within the permitted development area of a property's original boundaries, which means any previous extensions should be taken into account.

Planning permission is needed for extensions to flats and maisonettes, extending a property nearer to the road, or including a kitchen area. Visit www.growyourhome.com for a rough estimate of cost.

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Conservatory

A conservatory can be built without planning permission under the same rules as single storey extension. The key to a good conservatory is to think how it will extend existing living space and what it will be used for. Using a conservatory to create a dining or living area off a kitchen will attract potential buyers – a small enclosed glass room stuck obtrusively on a property not.

While traditional brick with wood and glass, or UPVC and glass, structures are still the most popular and cheapest, starting from around £4,000, increasingly bold and modern designs are in vogue, which cost upwards of £25,000. Visit www.trombe.co.uk for examples of upmarket modern conservatories.

Loft conversion

Nationwide Building Society says the value of an extra room on the average home is at least £30,000 and higher in expensive areas. A basic loft conversion to create an extra 4m x 4m bedroom would cost around £17,500. A general rule is that the steeper the pitch of a roof, the better a conversion will be and experts advise a minimum height of 2.3m across half the floor to make the project worthwhile.

Conversions can be done with building regulations approval but will need planning permission in conservation areas, listed buildings and for dormer windows. Visit the frequently asked questions at www.loftshop.co.uk for more information.

Opening up inside

The fashion for open-plan living is not to everyone's taste, but if you two rooms that could benefit from becoming one, removing a partition wall can be a simple job with a big effect. Similarly, too large rooms can easily be separated by installing a partition. Remember, never remove load-bearing walls without consulting a structural engineer.